Catching Gaudi

or
Glance to Barcelona via kids eyes

After quite a long time and many tours in homeland, finally we're on track again. This time a conference for my husband in Barcelona and a good time for me and our kid looking for a something interesting and visiting "place to see" all around the city.

The nature museum in a very contemporary building has an amazing room for kids (look for museu Blau).
The Zoo beside the animals also has a live standing queue full of mommies with pushcarts waiting for an hour or more for a dolphin show.
Park Guell is worth a visit with a good view to the city and, worth to mention, as the city itself is full of various playgrounds for kids.
Fundacio Joan Miro was for us, as we're fans of this artist (the mercury fountain by one of the artist friends is a shocking view and experience).
And of course famous Sagrada Familia. Take the advice and pay for your ticket online. Then there is no queue for the entry. Also, you don't have to print it - you may have the ticket on your smart phone. Another advice would be to start the tour from the museum under the church and then have a good look to the interior. It's amazing

p.s. look for a cozy cafe-gallery in the street of  

Beside the drinks it has some tasty easy food for your hungry belly

Doing nothing

or
Little vacation in the capital of Europe

Guess what - I'm getting used to doing nothing during my vacation. A cheap flight from once-upon-a-time temporary capital of Lithuania to the current capital of Europe and I'm far away from the daily routine and cold spring.

Well, Bruxelles is famous for peeing boy - checked, beer - of course double-checked, chocolate and truffles - also checked, and EURO parliament - also checked accidentally when we missed the last entrance to the Dinosaurs museum. From myself I'd like also to add super-relaxed people, who do not hurry and spend their time simple staring at something or nothing, who walk in coats or short-pants or even foot-naked at the same time, drive "Brompton" in the streets, also, there are plenty of second hand book shops just around the corner, and bars next to each other, but still full of people daily.

Good place for doing nothing.

p.s. they're still smoking in the bars

Keep wondering

or
What keeps you moving?

Sometimes I feel stuck.. In my minds, in other's blogs, in everyday life, in the work, in having no spare time, in your dreams, in friend's problem, in public Christmas panic, in everending routine... Sometimes I feel jealous for a different life which is not mine.. Then I remind myself - keep wondering and it helps ;)

Tyli pasaka

arba
kur žiemoja vilniečiai

Įšąlusiomis senamiesčio gatvėmis tylomis slinko laikas. Kartais jis susiliedavo su silpna laukiančių taksi automobilių skleidžiama geltona šviesa ir trumpam pranykdavo jų variklių dūmuose.

Vienišas žmogus stoviniuodamas autobuso stotelėje žiebtuvėliu kūrėsi cigaretę, kuri sunaikins dar keletą jo nuogų rankų ląstelių ir nesuteikusi tos tikrosios šilumos tik trumpą užsimiršimą užges jo plaučiuose. Šalta...

Autobuso keleiviai lyg užmigdytos lėlės amžiams susodintos kiekvienas į savo kėdes bijo net pajudėti. Atrodo, kad bet koks jų judesys pažadins laiką, kuris ilgam užstrigs įsitaisęs greta ant sėdynės ir ištirpdys lange įšalusias gėles taip sunaikindamas visą grožį ir paniekindamas jų trapią būtį.

Gyvenimas lėtai bėgo pro šalį kartu su užšąlusiais jo gyventojais. Niekas net nenorėjo galvoti ir užsidaręs giliai savyje snūduriavo saldžiu žiemos miegu.

Business trip

or
Cold summer in Northern provinces of Lithuania

For me business trip is an opportunity to visit colleagues, change the environment, and satisfy the demand of traveling for a while. The business itself was not mentioned in this description, because it's not the issue in this blog.

It was +25 in Vilnius, barely +18 in Tallinn and light rain in Riga.. Planes were shaking, and landing provided a small portion of adrenalin everytime.. Nevertheless, we managed to finish business early, enjoy a nice evening on the roof of hotel with strong wind, two blankets, and light mojito.. It's nice, but getting more expensive than the daily allowance a company pays for the business trips.

Maži netikėtumai

arba
kai važiuoja stogas

Ilgą laiką nebūnant namie nutinka įvairių stebuklų. Vienas iš jų šįvakar privertė mane nusišypsoti ir iš esmės pakeitė nuotaiką. Atsidariusi šaldymo kamerą prikrapščiau visą kibirą sniego, iš kurio suformavusi nežinomą skaičių sniego gniūžčių išsvaidžiau pro 5-to aukšto balkoną. Tuo tarpu apačioje sėdintys gėrė alų. Gegužė.

Pavasaris

arba
Miestas auga

Brr... Žaibuoja.. Labai smarkiai.. Po to griaudžia ir sukelia šitiek triukšmo.. Visas miestas netikėtai atgyja vienišų automobilių sirenose.. Lyja.. Taip smarkiai, kad atrodo tuoj viską nuplaus.. Smarkėja.. Ir žaibuoja tiesiai virš galvos.. Klausausi ir niekas netrukdo.. Truputį nejauku, bet vis tiek stoviu.. Žinau, tai ilgai netruks.. Be to, kita audra bus dar negreit..

Swimming season is open

or
Kayaking during the fair of St. Casimir

Forecast for the 2nd of March says +3, snow/rain, wind W 6(13)m/s, 733mm. Pretty shitty, a? Nevertheless, 8 kayaks with 2 people in each are ready for nice rowing in the river Vilnele, who gave the name for our capital Vilnius.

The first tree lying across the river forces me to jump out on it. My partner-driver has such a big blue eyes!!! He's desperately holding the tree with this hands round about it. Well, we straighten the kayak and he leaves me alone standing and waving for others. I walk the tree to the shore meanwhiles watching how another kayak repeats the same error, but their ship goes directly under the tree... Well, it's just the beginning.

Next interesting place is the waterfall of Belmontas. Survival of an old water-mill separates the main stream into three parts: two cascades of about 4 meters (where the guys with inflatable boats jump down), and a 7 step way down for crazy kayakers. Somebody is swimming, somebody gathers a lot of water and sinks at the finish line, somebody jumps down from the cascade, somebody is taking the waterfall for th third time, because somebody refused to go down in a boat.

The next part is not so interesting, nevertheless somebody is trying the cold March water once again. The lucky ones are going down with a perfect smiles, waving for the people with umbrellas on the bridges, wet because of the rain, but happy.

We finish after 5 bridges in the river Neris. It's big and boring for kayaking, but this is the end for a nice beginning of the spring. Next week we'll try another river. Season is open ;)

Riga on my mind

or
Best wishes from the 25th floor in Riga.

Nice view, perfect sofa, good tea and a book about the Baltic artists in a nice cafeteria 94.740 meters above the river Daugava for the employees of HB and their friends only ;) I like this city from the top..

Nevertheless, it's time to go sightseeing.. Sun, +7 - perfect conditions.. A friend of mine got a joke: "Ryga is a nice city, but there are two many latvians."

Culture city 2009

or
Finding a place for beauty in my mind

At last.. Some free time for culture and beauty..

"The Tiger Lilies" is visiting Vilnius, bringing themselves and British theater with "The Little Matchgirl" - most beautiful and saddest fairy tale by H.Ch.Anderson from my childhood. Unexpected, sad, gorgeous.. Someday I'll go to London to see some performance (anyone wants to join me - tickets from my side).

A presentation of a poetry book from some new, young (30years old) poet.. A little boring, but Aiste and Radzevicius during the break adds some special spice.. "You don't live the world, you live with the world" - a piece from her song.. It makes me think a little bit..

A concert of symphonic music tomorrow and jazz interpretations the next day.. I feel happier than before..

Gatvės išmintis

arba Vilnius online

Tavo dievas žydas.
Tavo mašina vokiška.
Tavo pica itališka.
Tavo kava braziliška.
Tavo demokratija graikiška.
Tavo skaičiai arabiški.
Tavo raidės lotyniškos.
O tavo kaimynas viso labo kitatautis.

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